Kelsey Roberts - Handsome As Sin

“You mean to tell me you were trying to steal a penny?” Ellie asked, astonished.

Rose handed the wide-eyed little boy to Ellie as she went over to the register. After a few minutes she said, “He’s right. Nothing’s missing.”

Again Jake didn’t react in any visible way. His casual, relaxed features piqued her curiosity. Of course, the fact that he was drop-dead gorgeous didn’t help, either.

Remember Mike, she silently admonished. Though New Year’s Day was still two weeks away, Ellie had already made a resolution—no more alpha males. And Jake was nothing if not an alpha. It was apparent from the hard set of his jaw. This man fairly screamed arrogance bred of too much testosterone, and she wasn’t about to let history repeat itself.

“So,” Beth began as she dabbed at Josh’s bloodied lip with a napkin. “Are we going to have him arrested?”

Josh shrugged away from Beth. Ellie guessed the action was the result of having so many people witness his thrashing.

“I should,” Rose huffed as she went over to survey the damage that was once her Christmas tree. She sank down to her knees. “Look at this!” she whined. “Do either of you two barbarians have any idea how long it’s taken me to collect these?”

Ellie offered a conciliatory smile. “Maybe we can glue them together.”

Rose grunted in response. “This one,” she said, holding up a fragment depicting part of a nostril, “was painted by a woman Elvis kissed in Germany. I have the certificate of authenticity at home.”

“I’ll be happy to share the cost of replacing what was broken,” Jake offered.

Rose glared at him. The hostility in her eyes reminded Ellie never to get on this woman’s bad side.

“They aren’t replaceable,” Rose said.

“Neither is my penny,” Jake said.

Rose got up slowly, still clutching the small piece of the King’s nose in her hand. “Do you really think an Elvis Presley collectible and a penny are in the same category, Devereaux? We’re talking Elvis here. Much more important than a dead president cast in copper.”

Jake moved then, drawing Ellie’s eyes to the definition of muscles where his well-worn jeans hugged powerful thighs. She shouldn’t be watching his legs, she admonished. Nor should she care that his sheepskin jacket hung from broad, even shoulders. It was as ridiculous as fixating on the fact that he didn’t just walk, no, this man swaggered with a pure male confidence that reminded her of an old movie hero. The kind that breezed into town, saved the day, then disappeared without a backward glance.

“Hot,” Chad said as he wiggled in her arms.

“Yes he is,” Ellie mumbled. “Rose, maybe your daughter-in-law can do something with the pieces. Isn’t she some sort of preservationist?”

“Yes,” Rose answered. “But I don’t think Tory can fix all these in time for the holidays.”

“So buy some new ones,” Josh suggested, a touch of annoyance in his voice.

“You have no appreciation for the King,” Rose said. “If you did, you wouldn’t make such a stupid suggestion.”

“Forgive me,” Josh said on a sigh. “I guess listening to his music hour after hour, night after night, has kinda turned me off the guy.”

Rose glared harder. “You can always find another job. Hey!” she called out, turning in the direction of the bar. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Ellie followed Rose’s angry gaze and found Jake on his hands and knees, crawling between the bar stools.

Jake looked over and Ellie was amazed at the mild annoyance she saw in his eyes. “I’m looking for my penny.”

“To hell with your penny,” Rose said as she stomped over to the man. “Is it worth a fortune? Is that it?”

Jake shrugged and said, “Not really.”

“Then get up off my floor and get out of my place.”

“As soon as I find my penny.”

Without taking her eyes off the man, Rose said, “I’ll give you exactly two seconds to get out of here, or I’m calling the cops and having you arrested for attempted robbery.”

“You don’t seem to understand,” Jake said in a calm but firm voice. “I need that penny.”

“And I needed my Christmas tree. Out.”

“It will just take—”

“Josh,” Rose called, “see this jerk out.” Rose stepped back to allow an eager Josh access to Jake. “Consider your penny—if there ever was one—partial payment for the damage you did.”

The two men squared off, and for a brief second Ellie was afraid another fight might break out. “Here,” Ellie said as she handed her nephew to Josh. “You hold Chad and I’ll see Mr. Devereaux out.”

There was a faintly amused light in his eyes as she took hold of his sleeve. “What about my penny?” he asked.

Guiding him toward the door, Ellie grabbed his hat off the table and thrust it against his stomach. It was a mistake. Brushing her fingers against the solid muscle at his waist caused a tiny tingle of awareness to spread from her hand to her arm, before shooting down her spine. “I’ll look for your penny tomorrow. The weather is getting worse and I have to get Josh home. I hardly think now is the appropriate time to argue over a penny. Besides, you just destroyed several of Rose’s most prized possessions. If you don’t get out of here, she’ll have you in jail so fast you won’t know what hit you.”

When they reached the door, Jake turned, and his eyes met and held hers. “Are you always the peacemaker?”

Ellie schooled herself not to react to the low, seductive quality of his voice. “I’m the middle child. I learned the fine art of mediation before I learned my alphabet.”

Shaking his head, he sighed. The action caused a wave of warm, mint-scented breath to wash across her uplifted face. “And here I was hoping you were trying to tell me you liked me.”

Ellie blinked. “I’d like you gone.”

“Here,” he said as he pulled a book of matches from the pocket of his jacket. “I’m staying at the Manor House. Call me tomorrow when you find my penny.”

Ellie accepted the matchbook, knowing full well she wasn’t going to call him. Every instinct in her body told her Jake Devereaux wasn’t the kind of man a sane woman called.

She locked the door and slipped the matchbook into her pocket. Rose still looked despondent, Josh was apparently still fuming and, for some unknown reason, Beth’s bottom lip was thrust out in a pout.

“Shall we?” Ellie suggested.

“Sled!” Chad yelled excitedly, throwing himself toward Rose. “Sled!”

“I know,” Rose said as she took the little boy from Josh. “We’ll go now.”

“Now,” Chad parroted.

Rose looked out the window and Ellie read the frown on her face. The reason for the deep lines became apparent as soon as she turned. Jake Devereaux was standing on the porch, just staring.

“I’m calling the cops,” Rose decided.

“Sled!” Chad argued, kicking his feet. “Go now!”

“I’ll be happy to take him home,” Ellie suggested.

“You’re taking me home,” Josh reminded her.

Beth stepped up and tried to loop her arm through his. “I can drop you off.”

“Forget it,” Rose said, sighing. “The alarm’s on. He can stand out there in the snow until his nose freezes off. Let’s just get out of here before we get snowed in for the night.”

The group shuffled out of the bar, leaving Jake with his nose pressed against the frosted glass. Ellie half expected him to appear at the back door and found herself oddly disappointed when he failed to appear.

After a quick round of good-byes, Ellie settled behind the wheel of her rented car. Josh slid in beside her, blowing air into his cupped hands.

“Gloves help,” she suggested with a wry smile.